InfoSpeed, a division of software development house OpenIT Solutions, has introduced Skills Tracker, a Web-based database and reporting tool.
The application automatically manages and produces regulatory employment equity (EE) and skills development reports compliant with the Department of Labour and various SETA requirements, says InfoSpeed.
The database system has been demonstrated to the Department of Labour and was received well, says Colin Ashby, a director of InfoSpeed, although it has yet to be government endorsed and sanctioned. InfoSpeed has tried to build all aspects of the SETAs` requirements into the system and has included non-essential forms that are of benefit to companies, he says.
In terms of the Employment Equity Act, companies with fewer than 150 employees must submit reports to the Department of Labour every second year; those with more than 150 employees must submit annually.
All companies with an annual salary bill of more than R500 000 must pay 1% of this as a levy to the Receiver of Revenue, which will then forward the payment to the relevant SETA. Statistically correct reports could earn a company a rebate of up to 60% of the levy.
"The government is getting stricter with EE and skills development compliance and will get much, much tougher during the next five years," he says. "If companies do not meet certain EE criteria and certainly if their records are not up to date and accurate, they can face steep fines.
"First offenders can receive non-compliance fines of up to R500 000 and government will push harder for EE and training compliance," stresses Ashby. The SETAs will most likely be the watchdogs for the Department of Labour, he says.
Skills Tracker took over a year to research and develop, is multilingual and uses Microsoft .Net technology, says Ashby. The company is projecting to reach sales of R45 million in year one, which means penetrating an estimated 5% of registered companies currently trading in the country.
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